Rifle bolt sleeve and safety



Aug. 18, 1953 R. o. AcKx-:RSON 2,648,926

RIFLE BOLT SLEEVE AND SAFETY Filed Aug. 2, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l R. O. ACKERSON RIFLE BOLT SLEEVE AND SAFETY Agg. 18, 1953 2 Sheets-*Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 2, 1950 A llorm'y Patented Aug. 18, 1953 UNHTED STATES PATENT Zdt Fifi@ This invention relates to an improved construction of bolt sleeve and safety primarily adapted for use on a Springfield, Model #1903, riiie and has for its primary object to provide an improved bolt sleeve which may replace the conventional bolt sleeve of such rifles without otherwise changing or modifying the rifle or any part thereof and which will provide a bolt sleeve having a safety which is disposed for swinging movement in a horizontal plane rather than in a vertical plane, as occurs with the safety lever as conventionally employed on such rifles, to thereby permit a telescope sight to be mounted at a low level and with the rear end above and adjacent the cooking piece of the rifle.

Due to the vertical swinging movement of the conventional locking lever of Model #1903 Springfield rifle, to use a telescope sight therewith it is necessary to either mount the sight at a relatively high level with respect to the receiver, where it cannot be conveniently employed by a marksman, or else positioned forwardly of the bolt sleeve so that it will not interfere with operation of the locking lever and which locates the rear end of the sight considerably in advance of the rers eye and which is likewise an undesirable mounting.

Accordingly, it is a primary aim of the present invention to provide a bolt sleeve to replace the conventional bolt sleeve and wherein the locking lever swings in a horizontal rather than a vertical plane beneath a telescope sight mounted above the bolt sleeve and cooking piece so that the rear end of the sight may be disposed close to the eye of the marksman and with the sight mounted at a low level relatively to the receiver without the sight in any way affecting or impairing the operation of the locking mechanism, actuated by the locking lever.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved bolt sleeve of extremely simple construction which is capable of being economically manufactured and sold and which will effectively function with other parts of the bolt and cocking piece for effectively locking the ring pin against forward movement when in a safe position and which may be quickly and easily moved to a position to permit firing of the piece without interference by the locking mechanism.

Still a further aim of the invention is to provide a bolt sleeve having a locking mechanism which will function with a conventional part of the piece to prevent opening of the bolt when said mechanism is in a safe position.

Still a further object o'f the invention is to provide a bolt sleeve with locking mechanism which is so mounted that the locking mechanism may be quickly and easily assembled in or removed from the bolt sleeve when necessary to repair or replace any parts thereof.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational View of a portion of a Model #1903 Springfield rifle showing the invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal substantially central sectional View, partly in side elevation of the receiver portion of the rifle, showing the invention applied and with the locking mechanism in a safe position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the parts as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a 'fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the receiver with the locking mechanism of the bolt sleeve in a firing position;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view thereof taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 5 taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 6--5 of Figure 2 and showing the locking mechanism in a safe position;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of the improved bolt sleeve, as it would appear removed and taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line -l of Figure 1, and

Figure 8 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view of the various parts constituting the irnproved bolt sleeve and locking mechanism.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, for the purpose of illustrating a preferred application and use of the improved bolt sleeve and locking mechanism, designated generally i0 and comprising the invention, the receiver portion only of a conventional Springeld rifle, Model #1903, has been illustrated and as all of the parts thereof as disclosed, with the exception of the unit l0 are conventional, said parts will not be described in detail and only those parts which actually function with the unit H3 will be referred to.

The invention I0 includes a bolt sleeve, designated generally H, including a body portion l2, similar in shape to the body portion of the conventional bolt sleeve of Springfield, Model #1903 rifle, which is provided with recessed sides I3 and a longitudinally extending bore I4 having an enlarged rear end and a restricted forward end defining a rearwardly facing shoulder l5. The body portion I2 at its forward end is provided with a forwardly extending sleeve i6 which is externally threaded as seen at i7 adjacent its forward end and Which is provided with a bore i8 extending longitudinally therethrough and which forms a continuation of the restricted forward end I9 of the bore Iii. The bottom portion of the body member I2 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 2|) which opens into the enlarged bore portion la and which extends from end-toend of said body portion I2. rhe top surface 2| of the sleeve b'ody i2 is provided adjacent the rear end of said sleeve with a relatively large opening 22 which opens downwardly into the borel portion lli and outwardly of said top surface 2|. Above the bore portions I@ and I3, the sleeve bodi7 |2 is provided with a longitudinal bore 23 which extends from end-to-end of the sleeve and which intersects diametrically with the opening 22. rEhe bore 23 is provided with a restricted forward end 24, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

A bolt locking pin 25 is disposed in the bore 23 and has a forward end slidably disposed in the restricted end 2d of said bore 23. The pin 25, adjacent to but spaced from its opposite, rear end, is provided with an integral collar 26 forming a stop for one end of an expansion spring 27, which is disposed on the forward portion of the pin 25 and within the bore 23, and the opposite end of which spring seats against the rearwardly facing shoulder formed by the restricted bore portion 2li, for urging the pin 25 rearwardly of the bore 23 and into the opening 2 I. The pin 25 is provided with a conical rear end 22, as best illustrated in Figure 8. Said pin 25 and the spring 27, mounted thereon, are insertable into the forward part of the bore 23 and the bore portion 24 through the rear end of said bore 23 and thence diametrically through the opening 22. As seen in Figure '7, the bolt sleeve body I2 is provided at its forward end with a substantially circular forwardly facing groove 29 which is disposed around the rear end of the sleeve I6 and into which a portion of the restricted bore end 25 opens and into which the forward end of the bolt locking pin 25 is capable of being projected, as will hereinafter become apparent.

A safety lever 3|] is provided at one end thereof with an integral depending shaft 3|, the axis of which is disposed at a right angle to the plane of the lever 340 and which is of a proper diameter to be journaled in the opening 22. The shaft 3| is provided in its lower, free end with a diametrically extending groove or channel 32 of arcuate cross section and said shaft 3| is provided interinediate of its ends with an annular groove 33 which is formed in its periphery and which is disposed t'o align with the ends of the bore 23. Said groove 33, as best seen in Figures 5 and 6, is provided in the bed portion thereof with a relatively deep conical shaped recess or depression 34 and has a second shallow conical shaped depression 35 which is circumferentially spaced 'from the depression 34. When the shaft 3| is disposed in the opening 22 the pointed end 28 of the pin 25 engages in the annular groove 33 to assist in retaining the shaft 3| in its position in the opening 22, as illustrated in Figures 2, 4, 5 and 6; however, the shaft 3| is also releasably and positively retained in the opening 22 by a retaining screw 36 which engages in the rear end of the bore 23, which is threaded to receive said screw. The screw 36- is countersunk in the rear end of the bore 23 and has a tit or restricted projection 3l on its inner end which lextends into the opening 22 and engages in the groove 33. As seen in Figure 4, a portion of the periphery of the shaft 3| at its free end Yand on one side of one end of the groove or vchannel 32 is provided with a tapered recess 'forming a vcani surface 38 for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent. The opposite end of the lever 33 is provided with a depending Lli) extension having an outer surface which is preferably knurled and which forms a thumb rest 39 which isdisposed for swinging movement in one of the recessed sides I3. The parts II' to 39, inclusive, constitute the invention.

The threaded end I7 of the sleeve I5 is adapted to be threaded into the rear end of the bolt 4|) of' the receiver, designated generally 4| of the ride, designated generally 62, which has only been partially illustrated. rIhis connection of the sleevei with the bolt lil is in the same manner as the conventional bolt sleeve of a Springfield, Model #i903 rie is assembled in the bolt. The firing pin G3 extends slidably through the bore portions I8 and Iii and the forward end of the cooking piece M is reciprocally mounted in the bore portion Iii and with the sear lug @il extending downwardly through the slot 20, The forward end of the restricted bore portion 25 is disposed directly behind and just above a locking pin receiving notch it which is disposed in the upper surface oi a rear portion of the bolt 4I) and which opens upwardly and rearwardly.

The lever S@ extends across a part of the top surface 2| and is disposed in substantially a horizontal plane and mounted for swinging movement on a vertical axis, provided by the shaft 3|. When the handle or thumb piece 39 of the lever 3@ is disposed in the forward 'end of the recess I3, as seen in full lines in Figure 3 and as illustrated in Figure l, the locking mechanism is in a firing position and the channel 32 of the shaft 3i is disposed in alignment with the bore III and fiush with a portion of the surface thereof so that the forward end of the cooking piece 44 may slide freely therethrough, as illustrated in Figure 4. When thus disposed, the shaft 3| is positioned as seen in Figure 5 so that the conical end 28 of the pin 25 may seat in the deep depression 3A to allow the spring Z'I to displace the bolt locking pin 25 rearwardly so that its forward end will be disposed in the bolt sleeve body I2 and rearwardly of the notch 46 and thus completely out of engagement therewith to permit the bolt to be opened and closed by a manual 'operation of the bolt handle 137. Likewise, the spring 21 'and pin 25 by engagement with the depression 34 will retain the shaft 3| against rotation in the opening 22 to thereby releasably retain the lever 3i! in its forward, firing position of Figure l. If it is 'desired to lock the piece 42 to prevent firing thereof, the cooking piece la inust be retracted from its fired position of Figure s to a cocked position slightly in advance of its position of Figure 2. When thus disposed, the handle or thumb 'piece 39 may be grasped or engaged for swinging the lever 3| rearwardly or clockwise, as 'seen in Figure 3, from its full line to its dotted line position. This initial movement of the lever Si! is resisted by the the spring 2'# and pin 25 due to 'the fact that the pin 25 must be displaced forwardly against the tension of the spring '2l by a camming engagement of the recess 35a' and pin end 2S and thereafter, due to the fact that as the shaft 3| comniences to turn clockwise its cam surface '33 will initially engage a forwardly facing shoulder '48, constituting a conventional part of the cock .piece i4 and dening a 'first lstep thereof. When this occurs, the cam surface S8 will initially displace the cooking piece 4d and ring pin '32 rearwardly slightly from its cocked position and to its position of Figure 2, thereby relieving the pressure of the cooking piece on the trigger sear 49, Athus disengaging the vfiring mechanism of the piece 212 from its trigger mechanism. At the same time that the shaft 3l commences this clockwise turning motion, the pin is projected forwardly against the action of the spring 2 to cause the forward end of the pin to extend into the notch 5, as seen in Figure 2, so that the pin 25 will then vlock the bolt di) to prevent it from being turned to a position to open the breech by manual operation of the handle fil, thereby locking the bolt lin a breech closing position. As the lever reaches its dotted line position of Figure 3 the shaft 3l will be in a position of Figure 6 so that the conical pin end 28 will then seat in the shallow depression which will still maintain the forward end of the pin 25 in the notch 46 but will combine with the pin end 28 to releasably Vlatch the shaft 3| with the lever 30 in its safe position as seen in dotted lines in Figures 3 and 6.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that an improved construction of bolt sleeve locking mechanism H3 has been provided wherein the locking lever 3e is disposed for swinging movement in substantially a horizontal plane about a vertical axis and is disposed just above the top surface of the bolt sleeve so that the telescope sight, not shown, can be readily mounted in a low position directly over and just above the top surface 2i and so as just to clear the lever 3@ and will not interfere with the locking, unlocking or operation of the piece E2.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A bolt sleeve and locking mechanism for rifles comprising a bolt sleeve body having a forward end and a rear end and provided with a restricted externally threaded extension projecting from its forward end and adapted to threadedly engage in a rifle bolt for mounting said body detachably on the rear end thereof, said bolt sleeve having a bore extending therethrough and through its restricted extension adapted for reciprocably receiving therein a rifle ring pin and cocking piece, said bolt sleeve body having an opening adjacent its rear end opening into said bore and outwardly and upwardly of the bolt sleeve body, a shaft journaled in said opening having a lower end provided with a diametrically extendingr groove registering with the wall of said bore in one position of the shaft to permit the cooking piece to slide through said groove and extending into the bore in another position of the shaft to form a stop for engaging and retaining the cooking piece in a retracted, cocked position, a lever projecting radially from the upper end of said shaft and disposed in a horizontal plane above and adjacent the sleeve body for swinging movement in a horizontal plane about the axis of said shaft for positioning the diametrical groove of the shaft in or out of registry with said longitudinal bore, said sleeve body having a second bore disposed above said first mentioned bore and above the level of said restricted extension and provided with a restricted end opening outwardly of the forward end of the bolt sleeve body, a bolt locking pin reciprocally mounted in said second bore for sliding movement longitudinally of the bolt sleeve body and disposed forwardly of said shaft, spring means urging said bolt locking pin into engagement with the shaft, said shaft having circumferentially spaced depressions of different depths for selectively receiving an end of the pin to releasably retain the shaft with the diametrical groove thereof either in or out of registry with said rst mentioned bore.

.bore and outwardly and upwardly of the bolt sleeve body, a shaft journaled in said opening having a lower end provided with a diametrically extending groove registering with the wall of said bore in one position of the shaft to permit the cooking piece to slide through said groove and extending into the bore in another position of the shaft to form a stop for engaging and retaining the cooking piece in a retracted, cocked position, a lever projecting radially from the upper end of said shaft and disposed in a horizontal plane above and adjacent the sleeve body for swinging movement in a horizontal plane about the axis of said shaft for positioning the diametrical groove of the shaft in or out of registry with said longitudinal bore, said sleeve body having a second bore disposed above said first mentioned bore and above the level of said restricted extension and provided with a restricted end opening outwardly of the forward end of the bolt sleeve body, a bolt looking pin reciprocally mounted in said second bore for sliding movement longitudinally of the bolt sleeve body and disposed forwardly of said shaft, spring means urging said bolt locking pin into engagement with the shaft, said shaft having circumferentially spaced depressions of different depths for selectively receiving an end of the pin to releasably retain the shaft with the diametrical groove thereof either in or out of registry with said first mentioned bore, one of said depressions being shallower than the other depression and being disposed to engage said pin when the shaft is positioned to lock the cooking piece in a retracted cocked position, for projecting the' pin forwardly of the forward end of said bolt sleeve body, the forward end of said pin being adapted to engage in a rearwardly opening notch of the rifle bolt when in a forward position for locking the bolt in a closed position.

3. A bolt sleeve and locking mechanism for rifles comprising a bolt sleeve body having a for- ,ward end and a rear end and provided with a cooking piece, said bolt sleeve body having an opening adjacent its rear end opening into said bore and outwardly and upwardly of the bolt sleeve body, a shaft journaled in said opening having a lower end provided with a diametrically extending groove registering with the wall of said bore in one position of the shaft to permit the cooking piece to slide through said groove and extending into the bore in another position of the shaft to form a stop for engaging and retaining thecocking piece in a retracted, cocked position, a lever projecting radially from the upper end of said shaft and disposed in a horizontal plane above and adjacent the sleeve body for swinging movement in a horizontal plane about the axis of said shaft for positioning the diametrical groove of the shaft in or out of registry with said longitudinal bore, said sleeve body having a second bore disposed above said rst mentioned bore and above the level of said restricted extension and provided with a restricted end opening outwardly of the forward endof the bolt sleeve body, a bolt locking pin reciprocally mounted in said second bore for sliding movement longitudinally of the bolt sleeve body and disposed forwardly of said shaft, spring means urging said bolt locking pin into engagement with the shaft, said shaft having circumferentially spaced depressions of different depths for selectively receiving an end of the pin to releasably retain the shaft with the diametrical groove thereof either in or out of registry with said rst mentioned bore, one of said depressions being shallower than the other depression and being disposed to engage said pin when the shaft is positioned to lock the cooking piece in a retracted cooked position, for projecting the pin forwardly of the forward end of said bolt sleeve body, the forward end of said pin being adapted to engage in a rearwardly opening notch of the rie bolt when in a forward position for locking the bolt in a closed position, said first mentioned end of the pin and said depressions including cam surfaces whereby the pin is oammed forwardly out of engagement with either of the depressions when sufficient torque is applied to said shaft by the lever,

4. A bolt. sleeve and locking mechanism for rifles comprising a bolt sleeve body having a forward end and a rear end and provided with a restricted externally threaded extension projecting from its forward end and adapted to threadedly engage in a rifle bolt. for mounting said body detachably on the rear end thereof, said bolt sleeve having a bore extendingv therethrough and through its restricted extension adapted for reciprocably receiving therein a rifle firing pin and cooking piece, said bolt sleeve body having an opening adiacent its rear end opening into said bore and outwardly and upwardly of the bolt sleeve a Shaft. journaled in said opening Vhaving a lower end provided with a diametrical-ly extending groove registering with the wall of said bore in one. position of the shaft to permit the cooking piecev to slide through said groove and extending inte the bore in another position of the shaft to form a stop for engaging and' retaining the cock-ing piece in a retracted, cocked position, a lever projecting radially from thev upper end of said shaft and disposed in a horizontal plane above and adjacent the sleeve body for swinging movement in a horizontal plane about the axis of said shaft for positioning the diametrical groove of the shaft in or out. of registry with. said longitudinal bore, said sleeve body having a second bore disposed above said first mentioned bore and above the' level of said restricted extension and provided with a restricted end opening outwardly 0f the forward end of the bolt sleeve body,

a bolt locking pin reoiprocally mounted in said second bQl'e for sliding movement longitudinally of the bolt sleeve body disposed forwardly of said shaft, spring means, urging said bolt locking pin` into engagement. with the shaft, said shaft having filcumferentially spaced depressions of dlfflfetlt` depths; for selectively receiving an end of the pin to releasably retain the shaft with the diametrical groove thereof either in or out of registry with said first mentioned bore, one of said depressions being shallower than the other depression and being disposed to engage said pin when the shaft is positioned to lock the cooking piece in a retracted cocked position, for projecting the pin forwardly of the forward end of said bolt sleeve body, the forward end of said pin being adapted to engage in a rearwardly opening notch of the rifle bolt when in a forward position for locking the bolt in a closed position, said shaft having an annular groove engaged by said first mentioned end of the pin and into which said depressions open whereby the shaft is releasably retained in said opening of the bolt sleeve body by the pin.

5. A bolt sleeve and locking mechanism for bolt action rifles comprising a sleeve body adapted to be detachably connected to and mounted on the rear end of a rifle bolt and having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough adapted to reciprocably receive therein a rifle cooking piece and ring pin, a latch shaft journaled in the bolt sleeve body perpendicular to said bore and extending upwardly therefrom, said shaft having a diametrical groove in its inner, lower end registering with a portion of the wall of said bore in one position of the shaft whereby the cooking piece may slide freely through said groove and movable out of registry with said wall portion in another position of the shaft to provide an obstruction extending into the bore and into the path of movement of the cooking piece for locking the cooking piece in a retracted, cocked position, a lever projecting radially from the opposite, upper end of said shaft and disposed above and in close proximity to the upper surface of the bolt sleeve and supported by said shaft for swinging movement in substantially a horizontal plane for positioning the shaft in either its rst mentioned, firing position or in its last mentioned safe position, a bolt looking pin slidably mounted in the bolt sleeve body between said shaft and the forward end of said body, spring means biasing the locking pin toward the shaft, said shaft having a shallow depression engaging a rear end of said locking pin for projecting the locking pin forwardly of the bolt sleeve body when the shaft is in the safe position for positioning the opposite forward end of the locking pin in engagement with a part of the bolt to retain the bolt in a closed position, and another portion of said shaft having a deeper depression for accommodating the forward end of the locking pin in a retracted position when the shaft is in a firing position, whereby the forward end of the locking pin is maintained out of engagement with the bol-t by said spring means, said depressions' having cam portions for camming the locking pin forcibly out of engagement therewith whereby said. locking pin functions as a spring projected latch to retain the shaft releasably in either a safe position or a firing position` RAYMOND O. ACKERSON.

References Cited in the le of thisY patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,155,326 Stamm Sept. 28, 1915 1,294,451 Hammond Feb. 18, 1919 1,324,493, Burton Dec. 9, 1919 2,484,977A Wilcox Oct., 18, 1949 

